Is an office sweepstake legal? Entry fees, the pot and UK rules

This is general guidance, not legal advice. The organiser is responsible for making sure their sweepstake is run lawfully. If you're unsure, check the Gambling Commission's own guidance or ask a solicitor.

Free sweepstakes

If nobody pays to enter, it isn't a lottery, and the rules below don't apply. A free sweepstake can include remote colleagues, people at other sites, friends or family. Leave the entry fee at 0.

Paid sweepstakes at work

In Great Britain, a sweepstake where people pay to enter counts as a lottery. The Gambling Act 2005 allows small "work lotteries" without a licence, as long as they stick to some simple conditions. Broadly:

• Everyone taking part works at the same premises, and so does the person running it. A company with offices in Leeds and Bristol should run one sweepstake per office.
• No profit is made. Every penny goes on prizes or reasonable running costs.
• Everyone pays the same to enter, and pays before they take part.
• It isn't advertised outside the workplace.
• Everyone is 18 or over.

That's why SweepSquad asks you to confirm three things when you set an entry fee: that everyone paying works at the same premises and is 18 or over, that no profit is taken, and that you'll hold the pot yourself.

The Gambling Commission's guide to running a lottery with people you work with is the official source and worth a read.

Where SweepSquad fits

SweepSquad is software for organising sweepstakes. We never handle any stake, entry fee or prize money — that stays between you and your members. Your subscription pays for the software, nothing else. The entry fee you enter is a record, so the app can show what the pot should be and who has paid.

Clubs and societies

Members' clubs have their own rules, similar to work lotteries but based on club membership rather than premises. The Gambling Commission's guidance covers these too.